Habitat Gardening

The Bellingen Shire has significant areas of native vegetation in National Parks and State Forests as well as extensive riparian land along the Bellinger and Kalang Rivers. However, land clearing, urban development and agriculture have destroyed habitat and created fractures in landscape connectivity which continue to have impacts on local wildlife. Creating habitat and wildlife corridors on your property is an important step you can take to protect our native wildlife.

When planning your garden incorporate some of the following elements.

1. Consider the needs of local wildlife including food, water, shelter and nesting opportunities.

2. Select native species, particularly those that are endemic to your local area.

3. Layer your garden with grasses, flowers, shrubs, trees and climbers providing a variety of habitats.

4. Select plants that flower and fruit at different times of the year.

5. Incorporate prickly plants such as orange thorn (Pittosporum multiflorum) or silky hakea (Hakea sericea) to provide shelter and protection for small birds.

6. Maintain hollow-bearing trees or provide nesting boxes.

7. Maintain logs, rocks and leaf litter to provide habitat for lizards, insects and microorganisms.

8. Create a pond to attract frogs and insects.

9. Create native bee and insect hotels.

10. Maintain or create links between local bushland and your garden.

If your property has a waterway or adjoins a river check out the Bellinger River System Landholder Booklet for advice on native plantings and encouraging biodiversity.

If you would like to attract more butterflies to your garden check out the amazing Butterflies of a Dorrigo Garden created by two passionate Dorrigo locals. It contains a butterfly gallery to help with Butterfly Identification, interesting facts about butterflies as well as a comprehensive list of what to plant to attract them to your garden.

If you are interested in joining a network of private landholders working towards conservation consider joining Land for Wildlife. The program is free and includes a site assessment of your property, property-specific advice and opens up funding opportunities.

Macleay's Swallowtail courtesy of Carol and Trevor Deane, Butterflies of a Dorrigo Garden.